Goal-Based Shared Decision-Making: Developing an Integrated Model

Abstract

Objective:

Definitions of shared decision-making (SDM) have largely neglected to consider goal setting as an explicit component. Applying SDM to people with multiple long-term conditions requires attention to goal setting. We propose an integrated model, which shows how goal setting, at 3 levels, can be integrated into the 3-talk SDM model.

Method:

The model was developed by integrating 2 published models.

Results:

An integrated, goal-based SDM model is proposed and applied to a patient with multiple, complex, long-term clinical conditions to illustrate the use of a visualization tool called a Goal Board. A Goal Board prioritizes collaborative goals and aligns goals with interventional options.

Conclusion:

The model provides an approach to achieve person-centered decision-making by not only eliciting and prioritizing goals but also by aligning prioritized goals and interventions.

Practice Implications:

Further research is required to evaluate the utility of the proposed model.

Introduction

Expectations, intentions, and goals play a vital part in decision-making, so it seems odd that the early definitions of shared decision-making (SDM) neglected to include these critical aspects of planning future actions (1 –6). This is especially odd given that formulating clear goals are key to long-term planning in patient-centered care. More recently, the role of SDM has expanded to consider long-term conditions (7) and patients with complex multiple health issues (8). Clinical practice guidelines typically only consider single diseases (9 –12). Dealing with each disease separately can lead to polypharmacy and treatment burden (9,13,14), with the risk that inattention to context, or potential interactions, leads to care that is not aligned with individual goals or preferences (15,16). Many argue that paying attention to goals, a high priority for dealing with complex problems, has largely been neglected (17 –22,23).

The absence of goal setting as an explicit step in SDM models has been criticized by clinicians who provide care for elderly patients with complex health conditions (24 –32). Empirical work has led to a proposed 3-level model for goal setting (28). Patients typically seek help to address the first level of goals, that is, to obtain relief from symptoms or answers to direct concerns. Vermunt called this level symptom- or disease-specific goals. Goals can also refer to function, for example, losing the ability to walk upstairs. In addition, goals might draw on a person’s values, hopes, and priorities in life, which are labeled as fundamental goals. It may be easier to elicit goals in relation to symptoms and a loss of function than to address these longer horizon goals, which are often less clearly defined, but these fundamental goals are important as they help guide priorities. The 3-goal model describes the inter-relationships between these goal levels (symptomatic, functional, and fundamental) and how they serve as anchors or markers when decisions are being considered (28).

That SDM has failed to call explicit attention to the central role of goal setting, and that goals are multilayered, led to our realization that there was an opportunity to develop a model that clearly recognizes the relationship between goals and decision-making and to highlight the benefits of addressing goals in more detail. The recent update of the 3-talk SDM model paid attention to goals (33). But we also determined that more could be done to make sure that goals would be considered at 3 levels.

Our aim in this article is to develop an integrated goal-based model for SDM in order to provide both patients and clinicians with an SDM approach suitable for complex health-care problems. We hope that such a model will have high relevance for patients with complex health issues, who have more than 1 health-related condition, and where contextual factors makes decision-making challenging. We illustrate the model using a hypothetical clinical case and also propose a practical tool to support clinicians to adopt a communication process around goal setting.

Methods

To develop the new model, we contacted experts who had made key contributions to existing SDM models and had emphasized the role of goal setting in complex illness. We searched and summarized the literature in this area and held a series of meetings to (1) tabulate the key components of the 3-talk SDM model and the 3-level goal model, (2) agree on terms to use across both models, and (3) develop a provisional model by adopting the perspective of clinicians attempting to manage a complex clinical case.

We describe a hypothetical patient, Peter Smit, seeking help from a primary care clinician about multiple related problems experienced by many elderly individuals (see Box 1). We used an iterative approach, refining the model by considering the case from a clinician and patient perspective. We considered how a multilevel goal setting process would modify the existing 3-talk SDM model by paying attention to the elements listed in Box 1. We outlined the steps required to accomplish a goal-based SDM model, suggested specific questions to be adapted by clinicians, and describe how the model might be used to manage Peter Smit’s case (Box 2).

Box 1.

Elements Considered to Integrate the 3-Talk and 3 level Goal Models.

1. The relationship between goals and personal context, the problem or need identified

2. The different nature and levels of goals

3. Differences in goal priorities

4. Potential disagreements on goal priority between clinicians and patients

5. The relationship between the prioritization of goals and the range of possible interventions

6. Changes in decision-making processes, based on newly generated feedback loops

7. The cyclical and longitudinal nature of goal setting and goal attainment.

Box 2.

Peter Smit’s Case Description.

Divorced, lonely, drinking, and neglectful. Peter Smit is 70, divorced and retired. He often plays pool at a local bar, but he is lonely. He smokes and drinks roughly 5 units of alcohol most days. He has steep narrow stairs to his bedroom. He has fallen down these stairs on more than 1 occasion. This worries Peter. He neglects his house and his personal hygiene. His sister says that she can’t keep coming to clean up. She has telephoned the medical practice to say he’s not taking good care of himself.

Osteoarthritis of the hips. Peter has osteoarthritis in his left hip, which limits his walking. The pain wakes him up at night. He takes pain relievers.

Adult onset diabetes. His diabetes is poorly controlled with oral medication at the highest dose. His glycosylated hemoglobin level has been too high for at least a year, and during his last visit, his doctor said that insulin injections might have to be considered.

Results

In daily practice, needs are often interdependent and arise from personal, medical, and social problems. Decision-making in these situations is complicated by changes in health states and shifting priorities (9,34). Moreover, patients and clinicians often have different agendas (9,35 –39), which, if not made explicit, remain hidden, albeit influential. In presenting results, we will first describe the integrated conceptual model, followed by a description of the steps, tasks, and clinical questions that arise from the model. Finally, we will apply the new model (see Figure 1) to our hypothetical patient: Peter Smit.

Figure 1.

The goal-based shared decision-making model.

Goal-Based SDM: Describing the New Model

As we built the model, we perceived a significant change in how we thought about Peter Smit’s problems. First, we noticed how decision-making became a secondary concern as our focus shifted to goals, and significantly to the guiding nature of making fundamental goals explicit. We realized that the task of considering goals becomes influential across all phases of the 3-talk SDM process. Goals as well as problems become the focus, because solutions to problems are best evaluated against potential goal achievement. In the integrated model (Figure 1), collaborative goal setting occupies a central place in the 3-talk SDM model. This goal-based SDM process (Figure 1) consists of 3 steps: (1) goal-team talk, (2) goal-option talk, and (3) goal-decision talk. Goal-based SDM represents a shift in perspective: Previous models of SDM assume a relatively fixed range of options. Goal-based SDM by inherently influencing the range, type, and number of relevant options to be considered, also inevitably influences the decision-making process.

Goal-Team Talk

Team talk refers to the work needed to form a partnership between the clinician and the patient to support decision-making (33). Finding agreement on the nature of the problems comes first. By adding a goal setting process, and, where necessary, making the inter-relatedness of goals explicit, the patient is left in no doubt that their goals shape the effort to find good solutions. In goal-team talk, goals are best elicited in a collaborative process by paying attention to 3 levels (symptom-or disease-specific, functional, and fundamental) and to the views of both the clinician and the patient. We suggest starting by discussing fundamental goals, because fundamental goals will also guide discussions about functional and disease- or symptom-specific goals. Where goals are interdependent, attention to their interaction is required. Some goals may be at odds with each other, so the need to prioritize some goals, and to make decisions accordingly, will become evident.

Goal-team talk also enhances the diagnostic process by explicitly considering personal factors and contextual factors, and as with all diagnostic steps, accuracy is key. Eliciting goals at the 3 levels is likely to improve the relevance of interventions, especially where patients have multisystem problems as well as needs that also arise from personal and social contexts, as is the case for Peter Smit, where it becomes clear that resolving his isolation is a goal that he is reluctant to declare and he needs to feel well supported before he might be able to admit to this issue. It is important to say that this task needs not be arduous. Most goals, if accurately elicited, would presumably be relatively stable, and, if well-documented, goal setting at the 3 levels may not need to be completed at every clinical encounter.

Goal-Option Talk

Option talk refers to a process of comparing reasonable intervention options, using risk communication principles (33). Goal-option talk adds to this process because it follows the prioritized goals elicited during goal-team talk. Goals at the multiple levels will ideally guide the selection of interventions that could best achieve the desired outcomes. For example, using pain relief medication could address symptoms of arthritis, as well as help Peter undertake more housekeeping tasks. Prioritizing goals might generate options specifically developed to attain those goals, and to ideas about how to sequence interventions, and to be more explicit about the efforts expected by the patient, the clinician, or the care team. The existence of conflicting goals might require thinking about trade-offs. In Peter’s case for instance, the option to continue living independently may be at odds with his wish to be less lonely.

Goal-Decision Talk

Decision talk describes the task of eliciting patient preferences in order to determine a specific decision. Goal-decision talk is similar and also ensures that desired goals guide the deliberation process. Typically, decisions are made by assessing which options seem best, given the range of benefits and harms. In goal-decision talk, it is possible that more than 1 goal is considered. What might be the impact on symptoms, function, and more fundamental goals be? For Peter, being able to stay at home (a fundamental goal) will require attention to pain (a symptomatic goal) and to his ability to navigate the stairs (a functional goal). This illustrates that the goal-based SDM model has feedback loops. Realizing the difficulty of addressing both symptoms and function may lead Peter to consider whether living independently is even desirable. In other words, goal-based decisions require an iterative process of examining and reexamining how problems, goals, and potential interventions influence each other (Figure 1). Decisions-to-be-made emerge or are refined by this process. An important element of goal-decision talk is planning the evaluation of goal attainment, an explicit feedback loop that becomes a new aspect of SDM.

Goal-Based SDM: Steps, Tasks, and Clinical Questions

The goal-based SDM model proposes a nonlinear iterative process. Goals are likely to evolve, as goal-team talk, goal-option talk, or goal-decision talk takes place. Goal priorities may shift, as potential consequences become clearer or as personal needs and contextual factors become evident. Table 1 illustrates the different steps and tasks to be considered and suggests useful questions at each step of the goal-based SDM process. Table 2 applies the model and illustrates how Peter Smit and his clinician achieve the steps.

Table 1.

A Goal-Based SDM Model: Steps, Tasks, and Clinical Questions.

Steps	Tasks	Suggested Questions
Goal-team talk	Introduce goal setting and explain how goals relate to problems and to a personal narrative and context	“Let’s work as a team to explore what bothers you and what matters most to you to elicit the goals we should focus on…”
	Set collaborative goals at 3 levels, starting from the patient’s perspective.	Fundamental goals “What are you hoping for in your life?” “What are you most afraid of losing in your life?” Functional goals “What activities do you want to be able to carry on doing?” Disease- or symptom-specific goals “What symptoms or aspect of disease do you want to change?”
	Prioritize goals and make the interdependency of goals explicit	“Which of these goals are most important to you, and tell me why…?” “Let’s discuss how these goals relate to each other…”
Goal-option talk	Compare options for achieving prioritized goals	“Let’s compare the possible options that could help achieve these goals…”
	Pay attention to expected results, risks, chances of success, and the effort needed to achieve the prioritized goals	“Let’s think about how likely these options are to achieve your goals, and how much effort on your part they might take…”
	Consider impact of options on other prioritized goals and reprioritize if necessary	“Do you think we need change which goals are most important to you?”
Goal-decision talk	Agree decisions to be made	“Let’s agree on the decisions we need to make…”
	Make goal-based decisions	“Given our discussion about goals, what’s your view about next steps…?”
	Plan evaluation of goal attainment	“What would attainment of your goals look like to you and how might we evaluate this?”

Abbreviation: SDM, shared decision-making.

Table 2.

Peter’s Case Using Goal-Based SDM.

Goal-team talk: Providing support and eliciting goals at multiple levels	Peter visits his clinician often for hip pain and dizziness. She invites Peter to talk about his goals. She summarizes the problems and mentions the risk from falls, from diabetes, and the decline in his ability to live independently. After exploring what bothers him most, she suggests they “work as a team” to set goals and the best interventions.
Goal setting	The clinician asks Peter about his hopes and what he is “most afraid of losing.” Peter admits that he really wants to stay living at home, despite his loneliness. Peter’s limited ability to walk is reducing his motivation to get out, and he finds himself watching television and drinking whiskey. Hip pain and insomnia bother him most. He accepts the need to clean his home but lacks motivation. His clinician is afraid he will fall down the stairs. Ideally, his diabetes also needs better control. Peter knows these problems are linked, but he does not know where to start. Peter and his clinician set collaborative goals at 3 levels, summarized below.
Goal levels	Fundamental goals Continue to live at home, independently. Reduce loneliness. Functional goals Better mobility: walk to bar and local shops. Meet wider circle of friends. Improve self-hygiene. Improve housekeeping. Disease- or symptom-specific goals Reduce pain. Reduce risk of falls. Better sleep. Improve diabetes control.
Goal interdependency and conflict	The clinician notes that the goals of living independently and reducing loneliness, given his reduced mobility, are not easy to achieve. Building a wider social group may be difficult for Peter. The clinician offers that living in different accommodation may bring with it more opportunities to meet other people. Peter admits he had not considered that possibility.
Prioritizing goals	Peter says his urgent need is to reduce pain levels so that he can walk more and be less concerned about the stairs. However, Peter also says that he puts a high priority on being able to stay at home (a fundamental goal). He understands that improving his mobility (a functional goal) is a key contributor to realize his fundamental goal. Improving the management of Peter’s diabetes, a prominent clinical concern, is acknowledged, but discussions about this problem are postponed.
Goal-option talk: Goal-option talk is about considering the synergistic as well as conflicting nature of interventions as a means to goal attainment.	The Goal Board (Figure 2) helps display prioritized goals to both Peter and his clinician. It helps them discuss the potential positive and negative impact of intervention options on more than 1 goal. They notice that the interventions are not all medical and that some depend on Peter changing his behavior (using low-alcohol beer, for instance). Pain relievers may have impact on both sleep and mobility. Lowering alcohol intake and increasing mobility reduce the risk of falls (a functional goal) as well as increases the potential for Peter to stay living at his home (a fundamental goal). Similarly, looking after a dog could improve his mobility (a functional goal) and reduce loneliness (a fundamental goal). Shifting from whiskey to low-alcohol beer has the potential to improve his control of diabetes (a disease-specific goal) and reduce self-neglect (a functional goal). The sequence is relevant. It may be better to improve pain and mobility, before considering a dog.
Goal-decision talk: Goal-decision talk has 3 components: (1) clarifying the next steps (decisions that have to be made); (2) agreeing who takes those actions; and (3) agreeing how and when to evaluate the outcomes.	Given Peter’s goal priorities, the clinician’s would wish to address pain as effectively as possible, which may require considering listening to Peter’s preferences as he shares his views about options. Changing to low-alcohol beer seems logical to his clinician but may well be difficult for Peter if alcohol dependence exists. Perhaps, the decision to get a dog would be considered by many as the least urgent and most risky. But it is also possible that this intervention could have the maximum impact: It might also excite Peter. Peter’s sense of loneliness and his motivation to self-care might change; he may walk more, meet others, and take more pride in his home. The outcomes are unknown, so Peter and his clinician decide to focus on pain relief first and to evaluate this decision in 4 weeks. The clinician’s role is supportive, employing the skills of motivational interviewing where behavior change is required, and SDM when comparing options (40).

Abbreviation: SDM, shared decision-making.

Visualizing the Results: Goal Board

Eliciting goals at the 3 levels, prioritizing them, and considering many possible interventions that could be helpful mean thinking about many things. Using language alone may not be ideal. In applying the model, we found it best to visualize these elements in what we called a Goal Board (see Figure 2). At a basic level, this could be a flat surface where goals could be summarized on pieces of colored paper, then moved up and down to illustrate goal priority. Goals may cluster at priority levels and the possible relationships between goals and the possible effect of interventions could be discussed. For example, improving the use of analgesics is primarily directed at the goal of reducing pain, but this intervention might also address the goal of improving mobility. Using a visualization method would help patients navigate the relationship between goals and interventions. Figure 2 shows an example of a near final version, which required collaboration between Peter and his clinician as they talked about which was the most urgent problem and how it could be solved.

Figure 2.

Goal Board: aligning prioritized goals with intervention options.

Key Insights

To summarize, by eliciting 3 levels of goals, we observed the need to use visualizing techniques to support the work of discussing prioritization and the potential impact of more than one intervention. Eliciting goals at the 3 levels leads to wider and deeper discussions about priorities, beyond resolving symptoms or biomedical abnormalities. Asking about fundamental goals leads to more insight about “what matters most” for individual patients. Talking about goals brings clarity about who is responsible for action: patients, health professionals, or others? And because interventions need to be tested, the process has to become iterative and regularly evaluated.

Discussion and Conclusion

Discussion

Goal-based SDM

Asking patients to think about goals entails adopting a mind shift, and it has significant consequences, especially if goals are conceived as having multiple levels, prioritized, and considered in relation to both their feasibility and the likely effectiveness of possible interventions. Vermunt’s work in specifying a multilevel goal model in health care, specifically for patients with complex illness (28), has brought more depth to recent discussions about the relevance of goals for decision-making. Goals play a central role in guiding health-care decisions, although of course the clinician has to judge when and how often to focus on goals. Taking mutual goals into account changes the nature of decision-making processes, because bringing goals into clearer focus changes how potential interventions are considered and offered. In short, the ends help define the means. A goal-based approach strengthens the likelihood of person-centered care being offered because it is more aligned to personal priorities, while also paying attention to what might be practical and realistic.

By proposing a goal-based SDM model, we made the following observations. Contrary to earlier models of SDM, prioritized goals steer the options presented and decisions that have to be made. Putting goal setting as the guiding principle for conducting clinical interactions has profound impact on relationship building and communication processes, especially when the focus goes to fundamental goals. Asking about an individual’s fundamental goals requires reflection about the future, priorities, values, and relationships, which are of course sensitive personal issues, and likely to require empathetic skilled communication. It is, therefore, inconceivable that dialogues about fundamental, and other related goals, could occur in the absence of a collaborative effort (40).

Strengths and weaknesses of the methods

By applying the integrated goal-based SDM model to a clinical case that represented multiple long-term conditions in the context of many social and psychological problems, we were addressing a common challenge for health systems across the globe (23,41 –44). By imagining how a clinician could apply the goal-based SDM to Peter’s situation, we obtained insights and modified the model. We acknowledge that the utility of this integrated model requires testing in clinical contexts. We also acknowledge that the integration is the result of a collaboration between 2 clinicians who developed these 2 models and who are therefore likely to advocate that goals underpin decision-making processes. Further efforts are required to assess whether this proposed integration has merit.

Results in context

Proposing goal setting as part of SDM for older patients is not novel (35). Attention has recently been drawn to goal setting being a prerequisite to decision-making for individuals with multiple long-term conditions (19,20,24,25,28,29,31,32), and the sharing of treatment goals is at the core of the Ariadne principles, which aim to provide orientation in decision-making in situations where people face the challenges of multiple morbidity (9,36). However, we are not aware of previous efforts to embed goal setting into a model of SDM in order to assess neither the impact on decision-making nor efforts to consider the impact of setting goals at these 3 levels.

Conclusion

In hindsight, it is odd that goal setting has been absent from models of SDM. Although this proposed model is novel, and the application to a clinical case is hypothetical, we hope to have demonstrated the potential impact of this approach, especially for patients with complex problems.

Practice Implications

Further development of this goal-based SDM requires empirical work. Technological applications could assist with goal visualization, but the first task is to examine whether clinicians and patients would find the approach to be of value.

Author Biographies

Glyn Elwyn is a professor in health service research, focused on shared decision-making and coproduction.

Neeltje Petronella Catharina Anna Vermunt has a background as general practitioner and economist. Her academic interests focus on goal setting and shared decision-making in complex health-care. Furthermore she works for a strategic advisory council for the Dutch government.